Monthly Archives: June 2010

If this happens, your turf may be adapting to the type of care you are giving it.

New turf growth

The performance of newly installed turf is dependant on:

The quality of turf you bought.

How well your soil was prepared.

The care you give your new turf after it is installed.

Why your turf becomes thinner

The density of your turf responds to the conditions under which it grows and the care you give it. If your turf is grown in less than full sunlight or you give it less care than Rolawn did, it will lose its density and colour. Turf density is greatest when it is grown in full sun. Growing it next to buildings, tall hedges or under trees will cause the turf to become thinner. If you look around your neighbourhood you will also notice that lawns which receive low amounts of fertiliser are thinner. Lawns that are mown at heights greater than 50mm will also be thinner.

Does your turf seem to lose its lush green colour?

Loss of turf colour is generally caused by decreasing amounts of available nitrogen.

Solution to the problem

In most cases, your turf will need to be fertilised and mown more often. Remember: Your turf is a living organism and it will respond to the care you give it. Your Rolawn turf was delivered to you in excellent condition, and with the proper care it will remain that way.

Watering your new turf is the single most important step you need to take to ensure a good looking and long lasting lawn. Your new turf does not need immediate fertilisation but it does require water. Water is absorbed through the roots of the turf. Remember that no water enters the leaves of turf, so wetting the leaves supplies the turf with no water. Water is essential to the growth of all turf because it carries nutrients to the roots. It is important in the growth of leaves, it causes the leaves to be soft and pliable, and it makes the leaves stand up. Whilst you cannot see it, water is used by the turf plant to cool itself. Improper watering can cause problems for you and your turf.

Over Watering

Applying too much water can cause the soil to become saturated or soggy. If this condition persists for a couple of weeks in cool weather or for only a few days in hot weather, the grass will suffocate. Turf flooded by water cannot breathe, and turf must breathe to live. In addition, when the turf is flooded with water, disease can develop and kill the turf. It is important to realise that flooded turf does not mean the entire turf must be underwater. All that needs to be underwater are those parts of the turf in the soil. Roots must have oxygen to breathe, but roots must also have water to absorb fertiliser. Therefore, you must balance the amount of water and oxygen in your turf soil. This is easier than you might think.

Under Watering

Not giving your turf enough water can cause a series of problems for your turf. New turf is especially vulnerable to drought or insufficient water. Water is absorbed through roots. The greater number and depth of the roots of your turf, the more water the turf can absorb from the soil. Your new Rolawn turf is delivered with short roots on it. This must be done to reduce the weight of the new turf. However, the new turf has a very limited capacity to absorb water with its short roots. It takes only hours for new turf to dry out and be damaged or even killed. One excellent method to reduce this risk is to prepare your soil properly. Once the turf is installed it will need to be watered. Turf can dry out quite a bit before it will die, but even short periods of drought will cause the turf to be damaged, lose density, lose colour, wilt and become thin. Supplying the proper amount of water for your turf is important, and you can do this quite easily.

Watering your turf properly

How Deep - Watering your turf requires that you supply sufficient water to the roots. Therefore, if you know how deep your turf roots are, you know how deep the water must go. For example, new turf has roots that are only as deep as the piece of turf is thick. Thus, this turf must be watered at least enough to thoroughly wet it. However, this turf can rapidly produce new roots that grow 12.5mm per week. Thus, at the end of the week the water should be supplied to a depth of 12.5mm below the turf. In a mature turf in most UK soils, turf roots will be about 150-250mm deep, and water should be supplied to this depth. The only way to determine the depth of your roots is to dig a small hole and check.

How Often - Your turf needs water when it is growing. Therefore, during those months when you are mowing your grass, you should ensure that the turf is watered sufficiently. Generally speaking, during the months of June-September you should water mature turf about once a week. New turf may require watering twice a day for the first week, then 2-3 times a week, then, after 3-6 weeks, once a week. Once your turf is established, it is best to water it well before noon, so it will dry off before evening. During the spring and autumn, the turf will require much less water than the summer, and during the winter the turf does not need to be watered at all.

How to Apply Water - How you apply moisture is not that important, but some methods are better than others. Hand watering is generally the least accurate. Using a sprinkler is quite adequate. Using a timed sprinkler system can get you in trouble, because it may come on when it is raining and lead to water damage. Remember, it is not how long you water, but how deep the water penetrates the soil that is important.

How to Determine if Your Turf is Wet Enough - The best way to determine if your turf soil is wet enough is to dig or cut a small hole and examine the soil. Properly watered soil will not be soaking wet, but moist, dark and cool. Another way of determining if there is sufficient moisture in the soil is to stick a pointed knife into the soil. If the knife can be easily pushed into the soil and upon removal is cool and clean, your soil is moist. Do not get fooled by Mother Nature. Wet leaves and heavy dew makes the turf look wet and your wellies may glisten, but your turf roots may be dry.

Remember: To properly water turf you must supply all of the roots with water. Wetting leaves does very little to support the growth of turf.

Before answering these, we should point out that mowing your turf is the single most important activity you can do to maintain a beautiful lawn. Grass is a living organism that responds to changes. Your turf will get used to how much you cut off and being cut to the same height. If you dramatically lower the height of the cut or let the grass grow too long before cutting it, you can injure or even kill your lawn. Dark green leaves can withstand the intense rays of the sun, but those parts of your turf near the soil, which are shaded by the leaves, are very sensitive to the sun. If you scalp your turf and expose those tender tissues near the soil, the sun may scorch your turf. Scorched turf will turn yellow, grow slowly and may even die. In general the longer the turf, the deeper the roots. However, if lawns are mown higher than 20mm, there will be sufficient roots.

How soon after your new turf is laid should you mow it ?

Most people wait too long! Your Rolawn turf was conditioned to a 25mm (1") height of cut and mown just prior to harvest and delivery by London Lawn Turf. With new turf you may need to mow it 2-3 days after it is laid. If this is the case, make sure that the turf is well rooted before you use a rotary mower, because the draught created by a rotary mower could lift the turf. You should try and mow your turf whenever it is over 30mm long.

How high should you mow your turf?

The actual height of the turf is a matter of preference. However, if most amenity lawns are mown shorter than 25mm it will weaken the turf, allow more weeds to encroach and in general, require more care. Rolawn mowed your new turf at 25mm because it provides a high quality appearance. You can raise the height of cut if you want to. If you let your lawn get much higher than normal, raise up the height of cut. Then, each time you mow bring it down by a third, until it is the height you want.

How often should the grass be mown?

Mow the grass as often as it needs it throughout the year. Your lawn will grow at different rates as the temperature changes, after you fertilise or water, and so on. If you are mowing properly you should not see much clippings on the turf. You cannot damage your turf by mowing it every day or even twice a day.

Should you collect the grass clippings?

It is not necessary to collect your clippings unless they cover the grass and block the sunlight from reaching the lawn. Grass clippings are rich in nutrients, and by returning them to the turf in small amounts you actually are creating a healthier turf. Grass clippings do not contribute to making thatch. In fact, by adding them back to the turf your thatch will form slower. On the other hand, you can collect the clippings if you want to. Clipping removal causes no significant loss of nutrients. Clippings are only a problem if you mow your grass improperly.

What type of mower is best?

The best type of mower is one that you maintain well, keep sharp and use regularly. The type of cutting action makes only a minor difference. A sharp mower is most important. A dull mower will damage the leaves, allow for more disease development and make the lawn look shabby. Both cylinder and rotary types of mowers work well. To select the mower that is right for you, consult the brochures of the leading manufacturers, chat with your neighbours or the grounds staff at sports clubs in your vicinity.

Remember: Mow your new turf as soon as it needs it. It is not the height of cut, but how much of the leaf you cut off that is important. Never remove more than 1/3rd of the grass height at any one time.